𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓖𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 || 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲

Chapter 17 - Gone

"Are you sure it's not you who has been dosed with love potion Lucius?" Severus asked, raising his brows. Lucius scowled back at his friend as he discarded his empty glass on his desk.

"It's hardly love Severus... don't be so juvenile," Lucius sighed as he rounded his desk. "Besides, as you put it, it's not a love potion it's... how did you word it exactly? Amplifies sexual desire?"

"Yes, but I was being broad, making a clever jibe, the fact you're being so... high strung about it... well that says masses. If not love... what would you call it?" Severus asked in his usual bored expression.

Lucius thought for a while as he leaned back on his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. Severus could practically see the cogs turning behind Lucius' blue eyes.

"It's hard to explain Severus, especially to someone so... content in their own company shall we say?" Lucius smirked. "She's just... magnetic, I thought having a taste of her would satisfy me... but as it turns out, I now want the whole damn cake,"

"What of Narcissa?" Severus asked as he pressed his fingers to temple. He had a feeling Lucius was falling down a rabbit hole there was no way back from.

"Narcissa is irrelevant, her affair with Cyrus Greengrass has been going on for over a year, I don't see it stopping anytime soon."

"I think you need to stop and think about this logically Lucius," Severus warned, "Narcissa is complaisant with the random desperate models you find... but an affair, with your son's governess... under your own roof... it could tear your family apart... the entire Malfoy name apart if the Daily Prophet gets wind of it."

"I didn't ask you here for a lecture Severus, besides, Narcissa tore our family apart long ago. I'm handling things, you don't need to worry for me Severus. Now, may we see to the Hogwarts business?"

"I wasn't worrying Lucius, I am forewarning you, so that when this all falls apart... and it will... I will be able to tell you 'I told you so'."

"How kind of you Severus, thank you," Lucius rolled his eyes as he plucked a piece of parchment from his desk. "Now, I have some proposals for the Spring term..."

***

Ophelia and Draco ended their snow day cuddled under blankets on the sofa in Draco's room, hot chocolate in hand, with the marshmallows and cream of course. She read him some more of his quidditch book and the boy drifted off to sleep fairly rapidly. She was in two minds whether to move the boy into bed, but seeing him so peaceful she didn't have the heart. Instead, she tucked him in, and placed the book carefully on his nightstand.

"Goodnight Draco," She whispered as she closed the door to his room.

Ophelia glanced to the grandfather clock in the hallway, her stomach rumbling aggressively, it was eight o'clock already, and she hadn't had a bite to eat the entire day. With a hungry sigh she headed down to the kitchens in search for left overs.

Ophelia helped herself to a serving of the lamb pie the house elves had served for dinner that night, it looked as if it had been hardly touched.

"Don't mind if I do," Ophelia murmured to herself as she took a bite. Heaven, that's what it tasted like. She had to give it to the Malfoys, their food was the best out of all the great families she'd worked for. Obviously, she knew it was down to the house elves, working tirelessly day and night. But what influential family didn't have an army of house elves to keep their manor houses spick and span?